A few weeks ago, all of us at MDI road-tripped to Bluffton to visit Sunbrella’s Design Night at the Southern Living Idea House, Palmetto Bluff. Architect  Ken Pursley and Interior Designer Suzanne Kasler, who we blogged about earlier this year, worked together to create a refreshing look for this year’s idea house.

Palmetto Bluff is so charming! Their little downtown is adorable. We loved this little chapel overlooking the river.

Nestled among pine trees while also facing the water, the house is one with its surroundings. In the home’s design, it was important that the space inside connect with the nature around it.

You can tell from the light in the dining room that Suzanne and Ken did a great job of bringing the inside and outside together!

From the long, big windows that give way to lots of natural light to the soothing front porch vistas to the open layout of the home, a light, airy feel permeates the entire space.

This side porch is one of several porches that takes advantage of the incredible views.

The design overall is a harmonious blend of casual and modern. The addition of a screen door ensures the tone is informal and oh-so Southern.

This is a small room on the street side of the house that they maxed out the space with side-by-side twin beds and a shelf that acts as a nightstand. This would not have held a traditional bed, and so we tip our hat to this great solution and smart space planning.

This space at the top of the stairs, between the bedrooms, is a nice place to come together as a family or for the kids gather and read books at night.

We also loved the art in the house. It was simple yet powerful and so colorful!

This is one of the closets in the master bedroom. In this room, you have to walk through two separate his-and-hers closets to get to the bathroom. Again, natural light pouring through the window is so refreshing.

The toilet room is completely tiled to match the shower on the other side. Fun and original.

This is the “front” porch overlooking the pond. Imagine relaxing here over a glass of wine and a sunset.

The kitchen is visible in so many angles, and you’d hardly believe this pristine space could ever get messy.

That’s why the design also incorporates a clutter room that cleverly hides the chaos!

The master suite combines simplicity and elegance to make for peaceful place to rest, relax, and say good night.

One of our favorite elements is the firepit, allowing for a wonderful place to kick back and enjoy the breathtaking views.

The living room provides a light and airy space that is in harmony with the rooms that connect with it.

Here’s a quick overview of the design, courtesy of Southern Living. We hope you enjoy!